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Jeremy Corbyn: budget shows Tories are unfit for office Jeremy Corbyn: budget shows Tories are unfit for office
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has lambasted the budget as completely failing to deal with a national crisis of stagnation and falling wages, telling Philip Hammond it epitomised the woes of “a government no longer fit for office”. Jeremy Corbyn has lambasted the budget, saying it completely fails to deal with a national crisis of stagnation and falling wages, and telling Philip Hammond it epitomised the woes of “a government no longer fit for office”.
In a 25-minute response to the budget, the Labour leader largely avoided direct comment on the chancellor’s specific announcement, instead focusing on wider themes about the effects of austerity on public services, and people’s struggles with flat wages and benefit cuts. In a 25-minute response to the budget the Labour leader largely avoided direct comment on the chancellor’s announcement and instead focused on wider themes about the effects of austerity on public services, and people’s struggles with flat wages and benefit cuts.
“The test of a budget is how it affects the reality of people’s lives all around this country,” Corbyn began. “The test of a budget is how it affects the reality of people’s lives all around this country,” Corbyn began. “And I believe as the days go ahead, and this budget unravels, the reality will be – a lot of people will be no better off. And the misery that many are in will be continuing.”
“And I believe as the days go ahead, and this budget unravels, the reality will be a lot of people will be no better off, and the misery that many are in will be continuing.”
With pay lower than in 2010 and real wages falling, the Conservatives had presided over “a record of failure, with more to come”, he said. Noting that the target for eradicating the deficit had moved progressively from 2015 to 2025, he added: “They’re missing their major targets, but the failed and damaging policy of austerity remains.”With pay lower than in 2010 and real wages falling, the Conservatives had presided over “a record of failure, with more to come”, he said. Noting that the target for eradicating the deficit had moved progressively from 2015 to 2025, he added: “They’re missing their major targets, but the failed and damaging policy of austerity remains.”
Highlighting themes he regularly raises at prime minister’s questions, Corbyn noted the effect on budgets for schools, police and the NHS. Highlighting themes he regularly raises at prime minister’s questions, Corbyn noted the effect on budgets for schools, the police and NHS.
On housing – upon which some of Hammond’s most eye-catching announcements had focused – Corbyn said rough sleeping had doubled since 2010, and that this Christmas 120,000 children would be living in temporary accommodation. Speaking about housing – upon which some of Hammond’s most eye-catching announcements had focused – Corbyn said rough sleeping had doubled since 2010, and that this Christmas 120,000 children would be living in temporary accommodation. “We need a large-scale publicly funded housebuilding programme, not this government’s accounting tricks and empty promises.”
“We need a large-scale publicly funded housebuilding programme, not this government’s accounting tricks and empty promises,” he said. In another move transferred from prime minister’s questions, Corbyn used examples of people who had contacted him over problems with government policies.
In another trick transferred from prime minister’s questions, Corbyn used the examples of people who had contacted him over problems with government policies. One of these people, Corbyn said, was Martin, a full-time worker on the minimum wage whose pay arrived on a four-weekly cycle, meaning that he had his universal credit (UC) stopped when two pay packets arrived in a single month, and that had forced him to go to a food bank.
One of these, Corbyn said, was Martin, a full-time worker on the minimum wage whose pay arrives on a four-weekly cycle, meaning he had his universal credit (UC) stopped when two pay packets arrived in a single month, forcing him to go to a food bank. Rather than wanting to alter some elements of the UC system (as Hammond did in the budget) Corbyn reiterated his call for its national rollout to be paused. “That is the humiliation that he and so many other have gone through because of the problems of universal credit,” he said, referring to Martin’s experience. “Wouldn’t it be better to pause the whole thing and look at the problems it has caused?”
Rather than changing some elements of how UC works, as Hammond did in the budget, Corbyn reiterated his call for the national rollout of the system to be paused. Another person highlighted was a school science technician, Robert, who, Corbyn said, was demoralised by stagnant pay and cuts to school budgets. Ministers argued that schools had sufficient money, Corbyn said. “According to this government, 5,000 headteachers are wrong, Robert is wrong, the IFS is wrong, everybody is wrong except the chancellor.”
“That is the humiliation that he and so many other have gone through because of the problems of universal credit,” he said, referring to Martin’s experience. “Wouldn’t it be better to pause the whole thing, and look at the problems it has caused?” The Labour leader also noted the impact of the Grenfell Tower fire in London, in June, saying that while ministers were resisting council requests for funds to retro-fit sprinkler systems to tower blocks, when parliament was restored it would have sprinklers added. He said: “The message is pretty clear. This government cares more about what happens here than happens to people living in high rise homes – in effect saying they matter less.”
Another person highlighted was a school science technician called Robert who, Corbyn said, was demoralised by stagnant pay and cuts to school budgets. Summing up, Corbyn said the UK under the Conservatives was marked by growing inequality and injustice. “We were promised a revolutionary budget. The reality is nothing has changed. People were looking for help from this budget. They have been let down. Let down by a government that, like the economy they’ve presided over, is weak and unstable and in need of urgent change. They call this budget ‘Fit for the Future’. The reality is this is a government no longer fit for office.”
Ministers argued schools had sufficient money, Corbyn said. “According to this government, 5,000 headteachers are wrong, Robert is wrong, the IFS is wrong, everybody is wrong except the chancellor.”
The Labour leader also noted the impact of the Grenfell Tower fire in June, saying that while ministers were resisting council requests for funds to retro-fit sprinkler systems to tower blocks, when parliament was restored it would have sprinklers added.
He said: “The message is pretty clear: this government cares more about what happens here than happens to people living in high rise homes – in effect saying they matter less.”
Summing up, Corbyn said the UK under the Conservatives was “marked by growing inequality and injustice”.
“We were promised a revolutionary budget,” he said. “The reality is nothing has changed. People were looking for help from this budget. They have been let down.
“Let down by a government that, like the economy they’ve presided over, is weak and unstable and in need of urgent change.
“They call this budget ‘Fit for the Future’. The reality is this is a government no longer fit for office.”